from a customer's sales training: notes via quotes.

Sometimes, I have tough work days; really tough, question your brain and existence days. Other times (pretty often) I have oh-my-god-my-job-is-the-most-fun days. Example: last week I was invited to a customer's sales training retreat at Jay Peak Resort. This was exciting for several reasons:

1. I'm not in sales. I'm in marketing.
Ok, to be fair, the argument can be made that everyone is in sales. And there has to be synergy between sales and marketing for them to both be as effective as possible. But this event is hosted by one of our customers for their sales staff, and a small group of outside sales vendors are allowed to attend as well... but this year, plus one. Me!

2. It was held at Jay Peak Resort.
I had never been, and now I'm dying to go back. The rooms, food, and activities were incredible. There is plenty to do there whether the sun is shining or snow is falling: unwind at the spa, play golf, go hiking, play at the indoor water park, and of course ski or board in the winter.

3. They're a great company. 
I love working with them on projects, and they have the whole Made in Vermont thing going for them, not just with words but with action. They're small in size but huge in success.

This year, their keynote speaker was Garrison Wynn, author of The Real Truth About Success (we received a copy during the retreat, and I just started reading it). He spoke with us for two days, sharing his insight, posing tough questions, and getting us out of our comfort zone.

As I started taking notes, I realized that I was writing down a lot of things I already knew, but in a way that I hadn't really heard them before.

Simple is the new smart.
This is basically a different version of one of my favorite quotes:
"Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler." -Albert Einstein 
But really, everything is leaning towards less clutter: website design, logos and packaging, advertising campaigns. And when we get rid of the clutter, messaging and communication works better. Period.

Having value is not as valuable as explaining it well.
This was one of my favorites. I mean damn. It really doesn't matter if you're great at something if no one knows it. This is just as important for your personal brand as it is for your work. If you can successfully market yourself, everything is going to benefit, both personally and professionally.

If you don't stand up for the change, you lose your influence.
There is no point in making a change if you're not all in. New sales strategy? Don't revert to the old way because it's "easier". It didn't work. Out with the old. Not enforcing a rule or change, especially one that you create, is a recipe for disaster. Its the fastest way to lose the respect of your team, making every future change an opportunity for friction instead of progress.

The only way to know what someone values is to ask questions.
Find out what's important to them. Ask about what is working for them. Ask about their issues or concerns. Ask!

Low price = high risk. High price = low risk.
The age-old excuse to poor sales is that the price is too high. It's not. If the price was unrealistically high, the company wouldn't be in business. Get behind whatever it is you're selling and know what it brings to the table: value-add services. Most importantly, know your competition, and know what you have that they don't.

The foundation of true agreement is disagreement.
Having your opinion challenged is the best way to really get behind it. It forces you to dive deeper and learn more about both sides of the situation. Shutting down and not being receptive to another point of view guarantees that your knowledge and success will be limited at best.

Gratitude attracts better opportunities.
Be appreciative of whatever situation you're in. Even if it's difficult, focus on the fact that it's pushing you to be a smarter, stronger person. If it's great, don't coast. Work just as hard because the second you stop struggling, you stop improving.

Your best people will leave. The people who suck are with you for life.
This isn't always true, but it is definitely the case for the majority. In order to keep those "best", get to know them. How do they like to be challenged and recognized? This depends on the individual - their background, their age, their personality. In order to keep great employees, they way you interact with them absolutely can't be one size fits all.

Your beliefs create your experiences.
If you believe something to be so, the chances of that believe becoming reality are sky high. We can create our own success or failure. I've learned this lesson so many times the hard way: difficult relationships - letting nerves overcome me before presentations - but recently I've realized that if I flip my perspective, I can do pretty amazing things.

A goal is a dream with deadlines. 
Bam. Write it down. Set a date. Make a plan. Also write down the things that are blocking you from accomplishing that goal. Be honest - your blocks might surprise you. Bottom line: have a to-do list every. single. day.

Sometimes, all you need is to hear the same thing in a different way for it to really hit home, or maybe just need to hear it a bunch (the Rule of Seven?) All of this is so relevant to every job and even every personal situation. I think the most important thing that I took away from the two days is this:

You can only control yourself. 
Keep it simple. Be able to explain your value. Set the example. Ask questions. Get behind what you're selling. Disagree. Be thankful. Appreciate your team. Believe you can. Make a list.

Now go do it!

what I've learned from two weeks without coffee.

I'm by no means a coffee addict, but I do drink one cup religiously every morning. And by one I mean a grande nonfat latte. Every. Single. Morning. 

Ok, maybe I do have a problem...

Just took a little looksie through my Instagram photos and it's confirmed. I may need to reel it in a little.

So when I was creating my 101 in 1001 list, I thought I'd try giving myself a break from coffee for a couple weeks. I wanted to know if I was relying on it to wake up, and if so, if there was a healthier alternative that could still give me a morning boost. 

It was easier than I thought (phew, no long-term bad habit problems). Unlike attempting to pack my lunch every day for two weeks (which I've tried and failed at three times already), I kicked coffee on the first try. That's not to say I didn't miss it. But I realized that I was using it less as a wake-me-up and more as a comfort thing. Having a warm cup in my hand was a mini version of still being cozy in bed. And I like that. 

So here's what I found out.

I like tea...

I really do. Earl Grey with honey was my go-to in the morning, but there's so many options to suit your mood. Plus, Yogi tea ads a little spice to my life with it's little mantras, like this:

...but it makes me sick to my stomach.

I could only get through about a half of a cup of tea first thing in the morning, and then I'd immediately feel like I was on a continual roller coaster drop. It always happened when I hadn't yet had breakfast, which was often because I'm not a huge fan of breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Weird, right? Does anyone else have this problem? 

I got a better night's sleep.

I'm really not sure if this was more in my head, or had a totally different cause than mornings sans-coffee, but seriously. Over the past two weeks, I've had more full nights of sleep than I've had in the past two years. Awesome.

My diet changed, unintentionally. 

I found myself wanting protein instead of sweets and drinking more water during the day. I didn't think cutting coffee would impact what my body wanted, but it did. It's crazy how responsive we are to little changes, and it's even crazier to think about how much we probably ignore because we're just not paying attention.

I like the smell more than the taste.

Part of it is a nostalgia thing, waking up in the morning to a pot of coffee brewing when I was younger, way before Keurigs took over. It smells amazing, but I'm always a little disappointed when I take that first sip. It's a fine balance of temperature, sugar and milk to get that perfect cup. 

Oh, and the mug matters too. 

Here are some pretty awesome ones:

So what happened at the end of the two weeks? I've had coffee every morning. I know, I know. I was travelling for work and there's just something about airports and early mornings that go perfectly with a grande nonfat latte. But I think I'm going to start treating coffee more as a treat than a staple. Now if I only I could get over the early-morning-tea roller coaster drop.

Speaking of coffee... have you seen this? 

Do you guys drink coffee? What's your recipe for the perfect cup?

xo Emily

what I've learned from long-distance.

With Valentine's Day here, I figured I'd get in the spirit and write something lovey this week. But rather than talk about all the things I love, which I already do all the time, I figured I'd share some things that I've (sometimes reluctantly) learned along the way.

I immediately realized that the majority of my thoughts on love are the result of my long-distance relationships. Yes, plural.

Three of my best friends have lived states away for years. I have family that lives a thousand miles apart in opposite directions. And I was in a relationship that spanned 1,500 miles then 2,000 miles. Same relationship, greater distance. Crazy, I know.

The common denominator in my life is moving. I've moved. Everyone mentioned above has moved, most of us more than once. And even though it's a major challenge, it's also one of the reasons why I love them so much. They, like me, wanted new experiences in new places. They've all taken risks and are doing great things. I'm lucky to know them.

Here's what I've discovered through all the long drives, goodbyes, baggage claims and reunions.

Trust is incredibly important.
This may seem like it only applies to relationships, but trust is key in any situation, especially when distance is involved. Earn it by being honest and coming though on plans, which is so important when you don't have a ton of time together in person. You also have to be a great listener, because sometimes that's all you can do to make someone feel that connection across miles and time zones.

Pick your location for you. 
Don't move to a new place solely because someone you love lives there. It may be a major positive on a list of pros and cons, but it shouldn't be the most influential factor. Whether your reasons are obvious - a fantastic new job, a great music scene, or a view of the Rockies from your porch, or a little less clear - maybe you just need a change, they should be for you. Making your decision entirely for someone else is going to make it harder for you to really enjoy a new place because t's going to put a ton of pressure on making it work out. That being said...

Use it as an excuse to travel. 
Look at it as an opportunity to immerse yourself in new surroundings. Someone you love gets to play tour guide, and you get the inside scoop from a local. Plus, you might fall in love with it and move (for you!)

Distance doesn't necessarily make the heart grow fonder. 
Being away from someone definitely makes you miss them more than if they were a twenty-minute drive away, but it can also have the opposite effect. Extended time apart means fewer new memories and experiences together. That's why it helps to...

Always have something to look forward to.
A weekend visit. A phone date. Heck, it can even be watching the same television show and texting about it during commercials. A countdown makes the distance more bearable.

Don't use it as an excuse to not make new friends.
Be open to those around you - at the gym, at work, at Starbucks - it doesn't matter. Last week I met someone really cool on a late flight back to Burlington. Put down your phone, look around and make yourself available.

If you love someone, let them go. 
This is a cliche I'll totally endorse. Hanging on for hanging on's sake isn't good for anyone. Going away makes us grow and become better. (If you haven't read this amazing Medium post, I suggest you do so immediately, then come back to this. Seriously. It's that good.) Being apart will absolutely mean more effort from everyone involved, but we do it because...

Distance shouldn't stop you from loving.
Life gets busy. Plans get postponed. Promises can be hard to keep. None of that matters. I can go months (bad!) without talking to those far-away best friends, but when we do pick up the phone or see each other, nothing has changed. You're willing to deal with the distance because it's amazing when you actually do get to see each other. It's love. It survives whatever stresses you put it under. That's how you know someone's a keeper.

So would I recommend it? Yes and no. Sometimes it's out of our control. If we want the people we love to be the best they can be, and want the same for ourselves, then sometimes we have to deal with being apart. I think especially in a romantic relationship, there comes a point when there has to be an end in sight; a mutual decision that at a not-so-vague time, you'll be in the same place. And if you can't figure it out, maybe it's not meant to be. Things happen (or don't happen) for a reason.

By the way, have you seen this ad? My griping about long layovers and missed date nights seems ridiculous after watching. 

Anyone else have far-away friends or been in a long-distance relationship? How's it working?


xo Emily



title photo by S.R.